Energy Facts

The Problem
Our communities and neighborhoods are under pressure. In order to keep up with our increasing demand for electricity (and to minimize or eliminate rolling black-outs/brown-outs), utility companies across the country are having to increase infrastructure and build new power plants. In addition to the huge capital investment and permitting concerns, this increase in usage has placed significant pressure and demands on the environment.

The Solution
There is no quick fix for the energy consumption problem. But, each one of us can impact and improve the situation by finding ways to conserve energy in our own lives and community.

How can TED help?
While many consumers are interested in protecting the environment, most lack the tools necessary to take effective measure to save energy. That's where TED comes in!

Because it continuously (and accurately!) measures the electricity consumption of your entire home, TED can help you conserve energy and help your neighbors. With the installation of TED, you can immediately begin monitoring and controlling your energy consumption - which will also save money!

Other ways to conserve

There are many ways to conserve electricity, but here is a list of cool, hot tips that are simple and effective.

• Turn the lights off whenever you leave a room. Yes, even the fluorescent ones.
• Put in compact fluorescent bulbs. They have improved tremendously in recent years!
• Rather than leaving the outside lights on at night, replace them with a motion-sensing light.
• Let your dishes air-dry. Don't run your dishwasher drying cycle.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed.
• Plug the components of your entertainment center into a power strip; turn the power strip off when you are not using your home electronics.
• Turn off your computer at night...do not put it in the 'sleep mode'...turn it OFF.
• Put in a programmable thermostat and set your temperature for a comfortable setting.
• Keep windows and doors closed, and only open them when you have to.
• Take a brief shower instead of a soaking bath.
• During the summer months, close your blinds and/or curtains during the day and open them at night. In the winter, do the opposite.
• Only wash full loads of laundry - and dirty dishes! Half-loads cost just as much as a full-load.
• Turn the air conditioner up several degrees at night...better still, turn it off.
• Set the thermostat to the maximum comfortable temperature during the day.
• Instead of turning on your air conditioner, use a fan.
• Lower the temperature of your hot water heater to 120°F -125°F.
• If you are shopping for new appliances, be sure to check out Energy Star products - they have been designed to meet EPA efficiency guidelines.

Any combination of these will make you a real electricity saver (and put dollars in your pocket)!